State titles among highlights at season's ends

Some of the top sports stories in the Sunland, state and nation during May, June, July and August 2006 included:

May

Four Huskers were taken in the NFL draft this year. Daniel Bullocks was the 40th overall pick of the second round going to the Detroit Lions. Sam Koch was the 203rd overall pick of the draft as the Baltimore Ravens took him in the sixth round. Three picks later, LeKevin Smith went to the New England Patriots. In the seventh round, Titus Adams went to the New York Jets as a trade from the Philadelphia Eagles.

Beatrice's Lady Orange soccer team finished as the district runners-up to Lincoln Pius, falling 9-0 in the B-4 District final at Crete.

Beatrice seniors Brian Riekenberg and Tara Oltman were named the outstanding male and female athletes at Beatrice High School for 2005-06. Riekenberg received the Cook Trophy, while Oltman received the Uhl's Award.

Beatrice graduate Jon Deines helped lead Nebraska Wesleyan University to a national title in mens golf and was also named to his second all-American selection.

Lady Orange tennis player Jamie Gay advanced to the semifinals of the Class B State High School Tennis Championships, but fell and ended up finishing fourth overall.

Beatrice's Orangemen claimed the Class B State High School Track and Field Championship at Omaha Burke High School. The Orangemen's effort included a Class B State record-setting performance in the pole vault by Seth Burney, who vaulted, 16-0 3/4, and a gold-medal performance by senior Josh Pretzer in the 400-meter run.

DeWitt Tri County's Trojans and Pawnee City's Lady Indians both earned second-place finishes in Class C and D, respectively. The Trojans were led by sophomore Matt Shipp, who won the Class C boys 800-meter run. Lady Indian Sam Musil claimed a pair of first-place finishes, winning the Class D gold meals in both the discus and shot put.

Beatrice's Brandon Schrock claimed a seventh-place finish overall in the Class B State golf tournament.

2006 selections from the Sunland area for statewide all-star games included Mike Higgins, Beatrice, Shrine Bowl Classic; Lauren Fox, Beatrice, Shrine Soccer Classic and Nebraska Coaches Association All-Star basketball game; Brian Riekenberg, Beatrice, Shrine Soccer Classic; Michelle Koch, Jenna Dell, and Tara Oltman, all Beatrice, Nebraska Coaches Association All-Star softball game; Sean Lindblad, Diller-Odell, Nebraska Eight-Man Football Coaches Association Eight-Man All-Star football game; Ashley Stang, Fairbury, Nebraska Coaches Association All-Star softball game; Hannah Kroese, Firth Norris, Nebraska Coaches Association All-Star softball game; and Vanessa Munter, Norris, Nebraska Coaches Association All-Star softball game.

More than 100 bicycle riders from eight states, as well as Canada, competed in the inaugural Monumental Memorial Cycling Weekend, which was held in Beatrice over the Memorial Day weekend. Michael Grabinger of Spearfish, S.D., riding for Team Fresh Start, took the overall championship for the mens Category I, II and II riders in the three-day, four-stage competition.

June

Nebraska's baseball team was knocked out of the NCAA Tournament during regional action in Lincoln with a 5-1 loss to San Francisco.

Husker pitcher and former Beatrice Bruin Joba Chamberlain was selected in the first round of the Major League Baseball Draft by the New York Yankees as the 41st pick overall. He was one of six Huskers taken during the first day of the draft. Two more Huskers were taken on the second day of the draft, pushing Nebraska's total to eight, the most Husker players taken since 2001 when eight were also drafted.

Fifty-two teams signed up to compete in the Run, Row, Rock and Roll Adventure Race, which was held in Fairbury and sponsored by the Bob and Wauneta Burkley Wellness Center.

Bryan Behrends and Gary Swanson teamed up to win the 2006 Shotgun Blast Invitational golf tournament, which is an annual member-guest event at the Beatrice Country Club.

Beatrice's Bruins baseball team opened its season at home before heading north for a nine-game road trip to Alaska.

The Carolina Hurricanes won the National Hockey League's Stanley Cup in a seven-game series over the Edmonton Oilers.

Miami's Heat won the National Basketball Association Championship in six games over the Dallas Mavericks.

Tri County's Legion baseball teams played at home under the lights for the first time after a successful “Light the Field” campaign by the Tri County Legion Baseball Organization.

Oregon State edged North Carolina to claim their school's first-ever College World Series title during the NCAA baseball championship held at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha.

Beatrice's Mike Fox and Trevor Menke were selected to play on the Nebraska Basketball Development Association's Bison/Runza all-star teams. Fox played for the White team, while Menke was a member of the Gold squad, both of which competed in several national tournaments over the summer.

The Beatrice Senior trap team won a state championship at the 37th annual Cornhusker Trapshoot in Doniphan, taking the high overall team trophy. Team members included Mike Morgan, Shane Willoughby, Corey Ballue, Kenzie Stiefvater and Keith Hartley. Stiefvater and Sheena Mahloch of DeWitt Tri County also earned individual state championships. Stiefvater won the 16-yard high school girls championship, while Mahloch won the top high school girls handicap award.

July

United States tennis star Andre Aggasi played his final match at Wimbledon after announcing his plans to retire.

Italy claimed the World Cup mens soccer championship with a victory over France.

A number of Sunland area residents took part in the annual Cornhusker State Games, which were held in Lincoln and the surrounding area.

The Adams Outlaws 14-and-under softball team claimed the ASA Class B State Championship in Hastings.

The Beatrice Country Club hosted the annual Nebraska Womens Amateur Golf Association Four-Ball Stroke Play tournament with 48 teams from across the state competing.

Beatrice junior Taylor Lang “bulldogged” his way into the National High School Finals Rodeo as a steer wrestler. Lange competed in the national event, which was held in Springfield, Ill.

Colby Jurgens of Pickrell competed in the 2006 USA Track and Field National Junior Olympic Championships in Baltimore, Md.

The Homestead 4-H Shooting Sports Club precision air rifle team won the International BB Gun Championship Match precision air rifle national championship in Bowling Green, Ky. Team members included Jace Bures, Clint Sejkora, Sarah Broeker and Sheena Mahloch. The club's sporter air rifle team claimed three national championships in Kentucky with the team of Micaela Jochum, Cole Bures, Amber Staroscik and Alex Niedfeldt taking home the National Guard Bureau Junior Air Rifle Championship; Jochum, Bures, Niedfeldt and Alyssa Wolken winning the International BB Gun Championship Match; and Jochum, Bures, Niedfeldt and Wolken winning the 2006 National Junior Olympic 3-Position sporter rifle championship.

The Beatrice Bruins baseball team qualified for the National Baseball Congress World Series in Wichita, Kan. The team ended its season with a tournament loss to the Kenai, Alaska, Oilers, finishing with a 25-18 overall record.

Beatrice Hoops sponsored its fourth annual 24-hour outdoor basketball marathon at Beatrice High School with nearly 200 athletes of all ages participating in the event.

August

Beatrice's Eagles Juniors baseball team won the Class B State championship with an 8-2 victory over Wayne in the championship final at Crete. The Wymore American Legion Juniors qualified for the Class C State tournament, but fell in back-to-back games.

Nebraska started a search for a new mens basketball coach after coach Barry Collier resigned to return to Butler University as the school's athletic director. University of Texas-El Paso head coach Doc Sadler was later named to fill the position.

Lewiston graduate and Nebraska letterwinner Lindsay Wischmeier rejoined the Husker volleyball program as the new Director of Volleyball Operations.

Beatrice American Legion Seniors won their second consecutive Class B State championship, downing Gretna, 7-6, in a nine-inning state title game at Holdrege. The Wymore American Legion Seniors qualified for the Class C State tournament at Wakefield, but dropped both of their contests.

The new Tom and Nancy Osborne Athletic Complex, which includes new facilities for strength and conditioning as well as the Nebraska football team, opened at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

The Beatrice Stars 18-and-under softball team finished fifth at the USSSA World Series in Kansas City, Mo.